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SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026

Brookings, Oregon

ODOT Southwest Oregon Construction Report for Curry County

CCEC Invites Rural Youth to Apply for Programs Scholarships and Exclusive Washington D.C. Youth Tour PRESS RELEASE

U.S. 101 (Oregon Coast Highway), MP 312, Arizona Landslide repair ($18.3 million) This project will help reduce ground movement at the Arizona Landslide Complex, located 12 miles south of Port Orford, by building a deep shaft that will act as a giant catch basin for the new drainage system. Construction is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

Most work will take place on the west side of the highway. Drivers should watch for construction workers, equipment and vehicles along the shoulder. U.S. 101 (Oregon Coast Highway), MP 327.4-329.5 (Gold Beach) and MP 354.8-359.3 (Brookings), ADA curb ramp replacement project ($2,310,000) This project will improve pedestrian facilities by build-

ing ADA-compliant sidewalk curb ramps at approximately 31 intersections in Brookings, Gold Beach, Myrtle Point and Roseburg. All work is scheduled to be completed by July 16, 2026. Construction involves eight intersections in Gold Beach (U.S. 101 from Wedderburn Loop Road to Kerber Drive, MP 327.4329.5) and 12 in Brookings (U.S. 101 from Dawson Road/OR 255

to Benham Lane, MP 354.8359.3). In both communities, watch for intermittent lane, shoulder and sidewalk closures. Construction will likely take place Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., though trafﬁc impacts may continue 24/7 through the work zone. When sidewalks are closed, alternate pedestrian routes will be provided.

Understanding the Oregon Legislature: How laws get passed - and how to participate Here’s our civilian’s guide to the 2026 Oregon legislative session

Members of the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response listen to testimony about drug overdoses on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.

BY MIA MALDONADO

ceive more funding— and which face cuts— in the state’s 2025-27 budget. This year, Oregon’s mostly-Democratic legislature is expected to craft bills addressing the federal government’s immigration crackdown and Oregon’s cost of living, as well as a gap in the state’s budget caused by a new tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July. How does that process work? Let’s start with the basics. What is the Oregon Legislature?

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Whether you’re wondering when the state will finally fix that pothole, whether new restrictions on artificial intelligence are coming or if tips will be taxed despite new federal policies, what happens at the Oregon Capitol has impacts on all Oregonians. On Monday, the Oregon Legislature convened in Salem for a month-long legislative session, during which elected officials will pass state laws and decide which agencies and programs re-

INDEX

The Oregon Legislature is the body that makes state laws. It consists of the House of Representatives, which has 60 members elected for two-year terms, and the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms. To ﬁnd the lawmakers representing you, visit the state’s interactive map. Democrats hold 18 of 30 seats in the state Senate and 37 of 60 in the state House. That gives them the three-ﬁfths supermajority needed to approve new taxes or fees or increase existing ones

without Republican support. Each representative represents a geographic district of about 70,600 Oregonians, while senators represent districts of about 141,000. How often does the Oregon Legislature meet? In odd years, the Oregon Legislature has 160 days to craft laws and pass a budget for the next two years. In even years, lawmakers have 35 days to make laws and adjust the two-year budget they crafted from the previous year. If an emergency arises when the Oregon Legislature isn’t in session — such as in late August, when Gov. Tina Kotek called on lawmakers to address a major transportation maintenance funding gap — the governor may call for a special session, mandating that lawmakers come back to Salem to resolve an issue. How does a bill become law? Each bill starts out as a legislative concept introduced by a lawmaker or committee. Once introduced, a bill gets assigned a number and then the bill is sent to a committee for a public hearing. There are dozens of committees between the Oregon Senate and House, each of which focuses on speciﬁc issues such as education, government, labor and housing. Committees have bipartisan membership and hold public hearings on bills to hear

Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CCEC) and the Coos-Curry Electric Charitable Foundation are opening doors to outstanding educational opportunities for local high school students. With applications now being accepted for the 2026 Washington Youth Tour and multiple scholarship programs, CCEC is encouraging young people throughout its service territory to take the next step in their educational journey. Washington D.C. Youth Tour (2026) The Washington D.C. Youth Tour represents one of the most transformative experiences CCEC offers to a deserving student. Last summer, CCEC's representative, Sheila Larson from Port Orford, joined 27 student leaders from across rural America for an unforgettable week in Washington, D.C. The experience included Capitol Hill meetings, visits to iconic American landmarks, and engagement with national policymakers, all designed to inspire the next generation of community leaders. "The Youth Tour is incredibly meaningful," says Kelsey Bozeman, CCEC Senior Communications Specialist. "When Sheila stepped off the plane in D.C., she carried with her the spirit of her coastal community of 1,200 residents and the determination that earned her a spot on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's prestigious tour. We're so proud to have young leaders as future members of this cooperative." The Youth Tour experience is comprehensive; an American civics lesson combined with leadership development. Participants visit the Smithsonian museums, meet with members of Congress, tour the Kennedy Center, and witness the democratic process ﬁrsthand. From the Arlington Cemetery to the World War II Memorial, Please see SCHOLARSHIPS Page 2

Please see LEGISLATURE Page 4

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